Combination bathtub and water and space heating unit

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the combination of a conventional bathtub, and a combined space heating and water heating unit mounted directly above the bathtub to provide hot water for use with the bathtub, and to provide heated air for heating the room in which the bathtub is located. The combined water and space heating unit is enclosed in an insulated enclosure and includes an opening to allow the passage of hot air to the bathroom, and an exhaust fan for conducting exhaust air from the bathroom to the vent.

[451 Feb. 26, 1974 3,010,116 11/1961 Cowley 4/146 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby AssistantExaminer-Dona1d B. Massenberg [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to thecombination of a conventional bathtub, and a combined space heating andwater heating unit mounted directly above the bathtub to provide hotwater for use with the bathtub, and to provide heated air for heatingthe room in which the e 6m W n Sea M m m aim c d w e S m m m r. Wes C Wt O dh fi ew nm g r .m et m n .IWI mmwu a n mo m mxo and e 3 eO m 9 S mS m b m dcnd m E w mwm irflm 3w c '5 11 mm 6 l h o .mmmm 5b." one? M mmw w bh.m. mh 999999 677777 HHHHHH9 444444 4/179 A47k 3/00, F24h 6/00 Ov United States Patent Roberts i 1 COMBINATION BATI'ITUB AND WATER I ANDSPACE HEATING UNIT [76] Inventor: Helm Roberts, 217 N. Upper St.,

Lexington, Ky. 40507 [22] Filed: July 14, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 162,434

[51] Int. [58] Field of Search....... 4/145, 146, 148, 151, 152,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1961 Altman etal.........

Raiche Kysor... Andriul COMBINATION BATIITUB AND WATER AND SPACE HEATINGUNIT The present invention relates to the combination of a bathtub and awater heater, and more particularly to the provision of a water heaterwhich additionally provides heated air to the bathroom, and which ismounted directly above the bathtub so as to maximize available floorspace.

The greatest demand for hot water in a house is at the bathtub.Accordingly, the subject invention provides an arrangement which placesthe source of hot water immediately adjacent the bathtub. In addition,the heat conveyed by the water heater is utilized for heating thebathroom, whereby greater efficiency and economy of fuel is achieved.

The heating unit is enclosed within an insulated housing, having atleast one louver for conveying hot air to the bathroom space, andadditionally including an ex haust fan for exhausting air from thebathroom. In a construction of the heating unit wherein a gas immersionheater is employed, a three-purpose vent or flue is provided incommunication with the enclosure, the vent being in the form of twoconcentric pipes, the inner pipe of which is employed for exhausting thespent gas fumes, while the space between inner and outer pipes is usedfor combustion air and is connected to the exhaust fan mounted in theenclosure. In addition to providing hot water to the bathroom, the waterheater may be similarly connected through conventional plumbing to otherportions of the house.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedarrangement for a bathtub and a water heating unit which additionallyfunctions as a space heating unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the combination of abathtub having mounted thereover a water and space heating unit toachieve reduced cost of operation and efficiency in the use of availablefloor space.

Other objects and advantages of the subject invention will become moreapparent upon a reading of the specification taken in conjunction withthe following drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective, partial sectional view illustrating thecombined bathtub and water and space heating unit of the subjectinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial secitonal view illustrating the duct interconnectionbetween the exhaust and and the flue pipe, and between the gas immersionheater and the flue pipe; and

FIG. 2a is a partial plan view of the flue pipe.

Basically, the present invention relates to the combination of a bathtuband a heating unit mounted directly above the bathtub for providing hotwater for the house, and for providing hot air for heating the bathroom.One of the primary considerations in mounting the water heating unitdirectly over the bathtub is that space is always available above thebathtub, and by utilizing such space, no floor area need be taken up bythe heating unit. Furthermore, the dimensions of the bathtub are ofstandard size, and accordingly, the combined water and space heatingunit may be readily prefabricated in a factory and readilyinstalled in abathroom. Another prime consideration is that plumbing is always run tothe bathroom, whereby no significant modifications to the plumbingsystem within the house are required. In addition, one of the primaryconsiderations in mounting the water heater in extreme close proximityto the bathtub is that normally the greatest demand for hot water is atthe shower faucet of the bathtub. In addition, hot water from theheating unit may be readily distributed through conventional piping toother required locations within the house. Also, the prefabrication ofthe water and space heating unit enables the provision of a finishedsurface for the tub ceiling.

Turning to FIG. 1, the invention comprising the combination of a bathtubl0 and a water and heating unit, generally designated by numeral 11,mounted above the bathtub and connected thereto by a network of watersupply and drain pipelines, generally designated by numeral 12. Althoughnot shown in detail, the combination of the bathtub and water and spaceheating unit are mounted within a bathroom including walls 13 (which areshown partially in section) and floor 14, with portions of the plumbingnetwork 12 being mounted within the interior walls of the bathroom.Preferably the water and heating unit 11 is mounted directly against theceiling of the bathroom to achieve maximum height between the tub 10 andunit 11. The bathtub 10 is of conventional construction including a maindrain l5.

Extending through one of the walls 13 are a primary gas supply pipe 16and a main house water supply pipe 17. Gas pipe 16 includes a branch 16awhich extends to the water and space heating unit 11, and a secondbranch 16b which extends to other portions of the house. The watersupply pipe 17 conducts cold water and includes a branch 17a whichextends to the water and space heating unit 11. Other branches extend toother bathroom fixtures and mother portions of the building.

Hot water from the water and space heating unit 11 is delivered via ahot water pipe 18 to a main line 18a having branches 18b, 180 fordelivery to other portions of the house, as well as a branch 18d fordelivery of hot water to the shower and bathtub portions of the tub l0and for delivery to pipes 18a and 18f to other portions of the house. Asillustrated, the bathtub fixtures include a shower l9 and bathtub supply20 interconnected by conventional piping controlled by the suitablecontrol handles 21.

Turning to the water and space heating unit 11, as shown unit 11 ismounted directly above the bathtub and basically comprises a hot watertank 30 which is mounted in an insulated enclosure 31. The enclosureincludes at least two Iouvered openings 32, 32, one of which includes afan 32 for circulating hot air surrounding the tank 30 to the bathroomfor heating same. A bulkhead B is provided for separating the spaceheater from the water heater pipes and controls.

The enclosure also includes an exhaust fan 33. As shown in FIG. 2, theexhaust fan 33 is connected via a suitable ducting 34 to a flue pipe 35whereby exhaust air from the bathroom may be readily exhausted to theatmosphere externally of the house. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the waterand space heating unit 11 includes a gas immersion heater 36 having aduct 37 extending internally to tank 30 and in communication with theflue 35. Preferably, flue 35 comprises two concentric conduits, theinner conduit 35a being connected with the duct 37 for exhausting thespent gas fumes, while the outer conduit contains two spaces, 35b forcombustion air, and 35c which is in communication with the ducting 34leading from the exhaust fan 33 (see FIG.

an overflow into the bathtub drain.

As is readily apparent, the mounting of the water and space heating unitabove the bathtub provides an efficient system for the provision of hotwater, as well as maximization of the space within the bathroom. The hotair generated within the enclosure provides an available source ofheating for the bathroom through louvered openings 32, with the louversbeing adjustable and thermostatically controlled so as to control theamount of heat entering the bathroom area. In addition, the exhaust fan33 provides a convenient means of ventilating the bathroom.

Although a preferred form of the invention has been described andillustrated, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations may bereadily covered by one skilled in the art. For example, an electricheating system without ducts may be provided for heating unit 11, aswell as modifications and variations of the louvered openings 32 andexhaust fan 33.

Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be solimited, as changes may be readily made therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that theabstract of the disclosure and the subject matter described above andshown in the drawings be interpreted as illustrative only, and not alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bathroom the combination of a bathtub and water and spaceheating unit, said heating unit being mounted above the bathtub, watersupply means connected to said heating unit for providing cold water tosaid heating unit wherein the water is heated, said heating unit beingconnected to said bathtub by hot water supply and drain pipelines, saidheating unit further being enclosed in an insulated housing enclosurehaving at least two openings, a first opening allowing air to becirculated from said bathroom, past said heating unit into saidenclosure, and a second opening allowing air to be circulated out fromsaid enclosure to said bathroom, said enclosure including at least athird opening having an exhaust fan therein, and a vent extending fromsaid insulated enclosure and connected to said exhaust fan forexhausting air from said bathroom.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heating unitcomprises a water tank having immersion heating means.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said immersionheating means comprises a gas heater, with the exhaust of said gasheater being in communication with said vent.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said immersion heatercomprises an electrical heating unit disposed within the water tank.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second openingincludes a plurality of louvers.

6. In a bathroom, the combination of a bathtub and a water and spaceheating unit, said heating unit being mounted above said bathtub, watersupply means connected to said heating unit for providing cold water tosaid heating unit wherein the water is heated, said heating unit beingconnected to said bathtub by hot water supply and drain pipelines, saidheating unit being enclosed within an insulated enclosure from whichextends a vent having three passageways leading to the atmosphereoutside said bathroom; said enclosure including a first opening forallowing air from the bathroom to enter said enclosure; said enclosureincluding a second opening; a circulating fan mounted in said secondopening in the insulated enclosure for forcing heated air from theinterior of the enclosure to the bathroom, and gas immersion heatingmeans disposed in said water and space heating unit and connected to oneof said passageways in the vent, with combustion air from the atmospherebeing provided in the second passageway in the vent to the gas immersionheating means, and an exhaust fan means being provided between theenclosure and said bathroom to exhaust air from the bathroom which isconducted to the atmosphere via the third passageway in the vent.

1. In a bathroom the combination of a bathtub and water and spaceheating unit, said heating unit being mounted above the bathtub, watersupply means connected to said heating unit for providing cold water tosaid heating unit wherein the water is heated, said heating unit beingconnected to said bathtub by hot water supply and drain pipelines, saidheating unit further being enclosed in an insulated housing enclosurehaving at least two openings, a first opening allowing air to becirculated from said bathroom, past said heating unit into saidenclosure, and a second opening allowing air to be circulated out fromsaid enclosure to said bathroom, said enclosure including at least athird opening having an exhaust fan therein, and a vent extending fromsaid insulated enclosure and connected to said exhaust fan forexhausting air from said bathroom.
 2. The combination as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said heating unit comprises a water tank havingimmersion heating means.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2wherein said immersion heating means comprises a gas heater, with theexhaust of said gas heater being in communication with said vent.
 4. Thecombination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said immersion heatercomprises an electrical heating unit disposed within the water tank. 5.The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second openingincludes a plurality of louvers.
 6. In a bathroom, the combination of abathtub and a water and space heating unit, said heating unit beingmounted above said bathtub, water supply means connected to said heatingunit for providing cold water to said heating unit wherein the water isheated, said heating unit being connected to said bathtub by hot watersupply and drain pipelines, said heating unit being enclosed within aninsulated enclosure from which extends a vent having three passagewaysleading to the atmosphere outside said bathroom; said enclosureincluding a first opening for allowing air from the bathroom to entersaid enclosure; said enclosure including a second opening; a circulatingfan mounted in said second opening in the insulated enclosure forforcing heated air from the interior of the enclosure to the bathroom,and gas immersion heating means disposed in said water and space heatingunit and connected to one of said passageways in the vent, withcombUstion air from the atmosphere being provided in the secondpassageway in the vent to the gas immersion heating means, and anexhaust fan means being provided between the enclosure and said bathroomto exhaust air from the bathroom which is conducted to the atmospherevia the third passageway in the vent.